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Diacylglycerol modulation of insulin receptor from cultured human mononuclear cells. Effects on binding and

Diabetes
|December 1, 1986
PubMed

Insights

Diacylglycerols, like tumor-promoting phorbol esters, inhibit insulin binding to human cell receptors. This suggests diacylglycerols act as endogenous phorbol ester analogs, affecting insulin receptor affinity and stimulating insulin internalization.

Area of Science:

  • Cell biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Tumor-promoting phorbol esters are known to modulate growth factor and hormone receptor interactions.
  • Diacylglycerols are endogenous analogs of phorbol esters, suggesting a potential role in similar cellular processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of diacylglycerols on the binding of 125I-labeled insulin to its receptor in human cells.
  • To compare the action of diacylglycerols with that of tumor-promoting phorbol esters on insulin receptor binding.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized human monocyte-like (U-937) and lymphoblastoid (IM-9) cells.
  • Assayed 125I-labeled insulin binding in the presence of various diacylglycerols and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA).
  • Analyzed binding affinity using Scatchard plots and investigated effects on insulin internalization.

Main Results:

  • Diacylglycerols inhibited 125I-insulin binding in a dose-, time-, and temperature-dependent manner.
  • Inhibition was attributed to altered insulin receptor binding affinity, with effects being reversible.
  • Diacylglycerols inhibited 125I-insulin-like growth factor I binding but not 125I-human growth hormone binding.
  • Both diacylglycerols and TPA stimulated 125I-insulin internalization.

Conclusions:

  • Diacylglycerols mimic the effects of TPA on the insulin receptor, supporting their role as endogenous phorbol ester analogs.
  • The findings suggest diacylglycerols influence insulin receptor function and cellular uptake.
  • The precise role of protein kinase C in these diacylglycerol-mediated effects remains uncertain.

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